Catch Her Spark

She Took a $30K Pay Cut to Get Her Life Back with Jeniza Ketay
What if earning less money could actually give you more freedom?
In this episode of the Catch Her Spark Podcast, Jen Maldonado sits down with technology executive and former fashion industry leader Jeniza Ketay to explore a career decision that many professionals struggle to make. After building a successful career at iconic brands like Victoria's Secret, Jeniza made the bold decision to leave behind a higher salary and transition into the technology industry—all to create a life that gave her more time with her family.
Jeniza shares how taking a $30,000 pay cut wasn't a step backward—it became the foundation for greater fulfillment, stronger leadership, and long-term career growth.
Throughout the conversation, Jeniza explains how redefining success allowed her to build a thriving career without sacrificing the moments that mattered most.
 
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What does it take to earn your seat in rooms where you're often the only woman? In this inspiring episode of the Catch Her Spark Podcast, Jen Maldonado sits down with executive leader Riffat Manasia, whose remarkable journey spans Wall Street, Harvard, Afghanistan, global economic development, venture capital, and technology innovation.
Riffat shares how growing up as a first-generation immigrant shaped her resilience and how working across some of the world's most challenging environments taught her that credibility, confidence, and authenticity matter more than fitting into someone else's expectations.
Together, Jen and Riffat explore why women must stop competing with one another and start building collaborative tribes that move capital, create opportunity, and transform communities.
 
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What if the best investment you could make isn't in your appearance—but in your long-term health? In this inspiring episode of the Catch Her Spark Podcast, Jen Maldonado sits down with board-certified gynecologist and certified menopause practitioner Dr. Susan Hardwick-Smith to challenge the way women think about aging, hormones, wellness, and self-worth.
Dr. Susan shares her personal journey from practicing traditional OB/GYN medicine to building a women-centered wellness practice that prioritizes education, connection, and personalized care. Together, Jen and Dr. Susan explore why so many women struggle through perimenopause and menopause without the information and support they deserve—and how changing the conversation can change lives.
Throughout the episode, they discuss why menopause education is still lacking, how hormones influence physical and emotional health, the importance of creating safe healthcare experiences, and why investing in your health should be viewed as one of life's greatest priorities.
 
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What happens when an unexpected layoff forces you to stop, reflect, and ask a different question—not "What's next?" but "What do I truly want?"
In this inspiring episode of Catch Her Spark, Jen Maldonado sits down with Ana Ekman, a technology sales leader who spent more than a decade helping enterprise organizations navigate complex digital workplace transformations. When she was unexpectedly laid off during the rapid rise of AI, Anastasia chose curiosity over fear and began exploring what success could look like on her own terms.
Together, Jen and Ana discuss what it really feels like to navigate career uncertainty, embrace reinvention, and discover new opportunities during one of the biggest shifts the technology industry has ever experienced.
 
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What happens when healthcare stops focusing only on procedures and starts focusing on people? In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Kristen McCreight shares how one simple shift—putting human connection first—helped transform a struggling hospital's patient experience from the bottom of the rankings to the very top.
Kristen joins Jen Maldonado to discuss why empathy isn't just a nice quality to have—it's a leadership strategy that improves trust, communication, healing, and long-term outcomes. Together, they explore the lessons Kristen has learned as a nurse leader, educator, entrepreneur, wife, mother of five, and lifelong mentor.
 
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In this episode of Catch Her Spark, Jen Maldonado sits down with award-winning architect and design leader Laura Evans. After beginning her career in New York City's demanding architecture world, Laura found herself on an unexpected path that led her into interior design, leadership, and building spaces that tell powerful stories.
Laura shares how relationships, curiosity, and a willingness to embrace change shaped her career. She opens up about finding her voice in a male-dominated industry, balancing motherhood and leadership, and redefining success over time. Through honesty and wisdom, Laura reminds us that growth doesn't always follow a straight line—and that showing up consistently matters more than having all the answers.
 
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What happens when a little girl from one of San Antonio’s highest-poverty neighborhoods refuses to let her zip code define her future? In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Adriana Rocha Garcia shares how growing up translating for her parents and neighbors shaped her heart for service and led her from Zip Code Zero to earning a PhD and becoming a leader committed to changing lives. These show notes follow podcast best practices for creating a strong hook, expanding on key takeaways, and providing guest information.
Dr. Adriana Rocha Garcia, President and CEO of the Center for Health Empowerment in South Texas (CHEST), joins Jen Maldonado to talk about purpose, leadership, motherhood, and why serving her community mattered more than chasing a bigger paycheck.
Growing up in Indian Creek, a neighborhood marked by poverty and crime, Adriana became the first person in her family to attend college and one of the first Hispanic women to earn a doctorate from UT Austin. Today, she is leading efforts to close the life expectancy gap between the north and south sides of San Antonio and create healthier futures for underserved communities.
 
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What does it really take to start over in a new city, build meaningful relationships, and rise to the top of a highly competitive industry?
In this episode of Catch her Spark, Jen Maldonado sits down with Jennifer Cuello, Audit Partner at EisnerAmper, who shares how she moved from New Jersey to Texas knowing almost no one and built a thriving career in private equity and financial services through authenticity, patience, and the power of community.
Jennifer offers a behind-the-scenes look at the world of private equity and wealth creation, while also opening up about the confidence gap many women face, the importance of lifelong learning, and why trust—not transactions—is the foundation of great leadership and relationships.
This conversation is packed with wisdom for women who are building careers, creating wealth, and learning how to lead with purpose.
 
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What happens when the person responsible for prosecuting criminal cases spends years watching immigrants and non-citizens navigate a legal system they don’t fully understand? For attorney Tayrin Wittenstein, it led to a life-changing decision. After 12 years as a prosecutor in Texas, she walked away from a secure government career to build a law firm dedicated to defending people who often feel voiceless in the justice system.
In this inspiring episode of Catch her Spark, Jen Maldonado sits down with Tayrin “Ty” Wittenstein to discuss her remarkable career transition, her passion for serving the Hispanic community, and the courage it took to leave a successful six-figure position to follow a deeper calling.
Ty shares how growing up bilingual on the Texas border shaped her perspective, why she believes preparation creates confidence, and what she learned from seeing the criminal justice system from both sides of the courtroom. She also opens up about entrepreneurship, building a law firm from scratch, hiring the right people, creating strong systems, and balancing motherhood with business ownership.
 
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What does it take to reinvent your life, raise three children, work full-time, and build a career dedicated to helping others succeed? In this inspiring episode, Jen Maldonado sits down with Mary Hernandez, Division AVP of Academic Partnerships at Methodist Healthcare System, to discuss her remarkable journey from unit clerk to healthcare executive and mentor for future nurses.
Mary shares how the loss of her father became the catalyst for a complete career change and how faith, determination, and service guided her through every step of her journey. She opens up about leading a COVID unit during one of the most challenging periods in modern healthcare, the personal sacrifices that came with serving others, and the lessons she learned about leadership, resilience, and change management.
The conversation also explores Mary's passion for developing future healthcare professionals, building strong nursing partnerships, and helping people discover opportunities they may not realize are possible. Through her story, listeners will learn how purpose-driven leadership can create lasting impact both inside and outside the workplace.
 
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